Fellowship

12/29/2011

Last night I had the sudden urge to read a book that’s been ‘on the radar’ lately – much talk about the book and an upcoming movie, along with having just finished a different book, sucked me in.  I snuck up to my daughter’s room, borrowed her Nook, downloaded the book, and began reading.  I stayed up for another 2 hours reading – finally succumbing to heavy eyes at 3am.  Needless to say – the alarm ringing at 7:45 wasn’t a welcome sound.  I was tired.  I am still tired (as I write this at 10:06 am), and I will continue to be tired.

Knowing I couldn’t go back to bed, I made my morning concoction – Spark/Hydrate, and began the drive to my daughters place of gymnastics.  It’s a 20 minute ride.  Somewhere in the middle of that drive, in the middle of a conversation about the colors of cars, value of new versus used, safety of certain brands; it hit me (If you know me at all you know that God does this a lot – ‘hits’ me – mostly because I seem to ignore the subtle and gentle ways He tries to get my attention.)!  I spent the time, energy, effort, and enthusiasm to stay up late (knowing I would have to get up early) reading a book that had nothing to do with the promises of God, the word of God...yet I hadn’t been soaked in the word of God in many days – because I ‘didn’t have the time.’  OUCH!  I was drying up like a sun-dried tomato (currently my favorite food, thus the reference).  That one is going to require a band-aid!  Let me be frank here – I DO have the time – everyone has the time – I’d just filled that time with things that seemed more important to my human mind (laundry, cleaning, newspaper reading, etc… the ‘busy-ness’).  I hadn’t been using my time wisely. I’d used the holiday’s as an excuse – I’d said to God “time with my kids”; “a clean house”; “an ‘informed’ mind” are all more important than being in fellowship with YOU!   I wasn’t using my time wisely.

Coming home I realized this morning should and would be different.  I have a bible app on my phone (YouVersion – I highly recommend it), with a daily verse displayed on my ‘home’ page.  As I sat down to eat, God spoke to me - it was as if He said "If you are really a follower, you'll read my word before you eat, because I can fill you in ways that grapefruit cannot."  After one bite of grapefruit, I grabbed the closest bit of God's word - the bible app on my phone, intending to read today's LifeVerse chapters.  Howerver, I was intriqued by today's verse of the day:

2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV:
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

I realized – not only am I loved by God and able to receive grace through Jesus Christ – but I’m literally in fellowship all day with the Holy Spirit because He is in me.  I still have to be an active participant in that fellowship - it can't happen without my effort.  Not only do I want to start my day in fellowship with the Holy Spirit through reading/devotion/praise, I want to continue and end my day in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  Now here’s the ‘kicker’ – I have the power and ability to do so because the Holy Spirit is in me!  Imagine the strength I have with the power of fellowship with the Holy Spirit… it’s inviting: think fellowship with family and friends/gathering; it’s comforting – think the comfort of a great meal; it’s reassuring – think of the good memories of family gatherings and fun. 

Grace means Jesus will forgive my lack of focus, Love means God loves me despite my faults, and Fellowship means I have the opportunity to be filled second by second; minute by minute; hour by hour; day by day!

So I say to you –

 “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV